Chapter 5

And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.

For there were that said,⁶ We, our sons, and our daughters, [are] many: therefore we take⁴ up corn [for them], that we may eat,⁴ and live.⁴

[Some] also there were that said,⁶ We have mortgaged⁶ our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy⁴ corn, because of the dearth.

There were also that said,⁶ We have borrowed¹ money for the king's tribute, [and that upon] our lands and vineyards.

Yet now our flesh [is] as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage⁶ our sons and our daughters to be servants, and [some] of our daughters are brought unto bondage¹² [already]: neither [is it] in our power [to redeem them]; for other men have our lands and vineyards.

And I was very angry⁴ when I heard¹ their cry and these words.

Then I consulted¹¹ with myself, and I rebuked⁴ the nobles, and the rulers, and said⁴ unto them, Ye exact^{5 5383 6 5375 6} usury, every one of his brother. And I set⁴ a great assembly against them.

And I said⁴ unto them, We after our ability have redeemed¹ our brethren the Jews, which were sold¹² unto the heathen; and will ye even sell⁴ your brethren? or shall they be sold⁸ unto us? Then held they their peace,⁵⁵ and found¹ nothing [to answer].

Also I said,⁴ It [is] not good that ye do:⁶ ought ye not to walk⁴ in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?⁶

I likewise, [and] my brethren, and my servants, might exact⁶ of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off⁴ this usury.

Restore,⁵⁴ I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth [part] of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact⁶ of them.

Then said⁴ they, We will restore⁵⁵ [them], and will require¹⁷ nothing of them; so will we do⁴ as thou sayest.⁶ Then I called⁴ the priests, and took an oath⁵⁵ of them, that they should do² according to this promise.

Also I shook¹ my lap, and said,⁴ So God shake¹⁷ out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth⁵⁵ not this promise, even thus be he shaken out,⁷ and emptied. And all the congregation said,⁴ Amen, and praised¹⁷ the LORD. And the people did⁴ according to this promise.

Moreover from the time that I was appointed¹⁴ to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, [that is], twelve ⁶²⁴⁰ years, I and my brethren have not eaten¹ the bread of the governor.

But the former governors that [had been] before me were chargeable⁵² unto the people, and had taken⁴ of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule¹ over the people: but so did¹ not I, because of the fear of God.

Yea, also I continued⁵² in the work of this wall, neither bought¹ we any land: and all my servants [were] gathered⁷ thither unto the work.

Moreover [there were] at my table an hundred and fifty ³⁷⁶ of the Jews and rulers, beside those that came⁶ unto us from among the heathen that [are] about us.

Now [that] which was prepared¹² [for me] daily ³¹¹⁷ [was] one ox [and] six choice⁷ sheep; also fowls were prepared⁸ for me, and once in ten days store⁵³ of all sorts of wine: yet for all this required¹⁴ not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy¹ upon this people.

Think³ upon me, my God, for good, [according] to all that I have done¹ for this people.